Numbers 7:49
His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
Original Language Analysis
קָרְבָּנ֞וֹ
His offering
H7133
קָרְבָּנ֞וֹ
His offering
Strong's:
H7133
Word #:
1 of 20
something brought near the altar, i.e., a sacrificial present
אֶחָד֙
shekels one
H259
אֶחָד֙
shekels one
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
4 of 20
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
וּמֵאָה֮
whereof was an hundred
H3967
וּמֵאָה֮
whereof was an hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
6 of 20
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
מִשְׁקָלָהּ֒
the weight
H4948
מִשְׁקָלָהּ֒
the weight
Strong's:
H4948
Word #:
7 of 20
weight (numerically estimated); hence, weighing (the act)
אֶחָד֙
shekels one
H259
אֶחָד֙
shekels one
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
9 of 20
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל
after the shekel
H8255
בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל
after the shekel
Strong's:
H8255
Word #:
12 of 20
probably a weight; used as a commercial standard
בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל
after the shekel
H8255
בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל
after the shekel
Strong's:
H8255
Word #:
13 of 20
probably a weight; used as a commercial standard
הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ
of the sanctuary
H6944
הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ
of the sanctuary
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
14 of 20
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
מְלֵאִ֗ים
of them full
H4392
מְלֵאִ֗ים
of them full
Strong's:
H4392
Word #:
16 of 20
full (literally or figuratively) or filling (literally); also (concretely) fulness; adverbially, fully
בְּלוּלָ֥ה
mingled
H1101
בְּלוּלָ֥ה
mingled
Strong's:
H1101
Word #:
18 of 20
to overflow (specifically with oil.); by implication, to mix; to fodder
Historical Context
The sanctuary shekel weighed approximately 11.5 grams (0.4 ounces), making the charger about 1.5 kg and bowl 0.8 kg. Silver was precious in the ancient Near East, typically obtained through trade or tribute. The uniformity of offerings across all tribes prevented wealth disparity from affecting worship—rich and poor gave the same prescribed amounts.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the 'shekel of the sanctuary' as a standard measure teach about integrity and honesty in worship and daily life?
- How might the grain offering (fine flour and oil) symbolize the consecration of ordinary daily provision and labor to God?
- In what ways does the identical offering from each tribe challenge modern prosperity theology that measures spiritual blessing by material abundance?
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Analysis & Commentary
One silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary—The silver vessels (קְעָרָה, qe'arah, 'charger/dish'; מִזְרָק, mizraq, 'bowl' for sprinkling) held the grain offering (minchah). The total 200 shekels of silver per tribe amounted to 2,400 shekels across all twelve tribes—substantial wealth dedicated to God.
The phrase after the shekel of the sanctuary (בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ, besheqel haqodesh) established a standard weight preventing fraud. God's sanctuary required honest measures (Leviticus 19:36). Both vessels contained fine flour mingled with oil (סֹלֶת בְּלוּלָה בַשֶּׁמֶן, solet belulah bashemen)—the grain offering symbolizing daily provision consecrated to God.